Polar Bear Sightings, Ice-wine Tasting and More Reasons to Fall for Canada in Autumn

Vivid mosaics of red, orange and gold, city streets carpeted with fallen leaves and freshly harvested apples – the autumn you see in films is precisely what you’ll experience in Toronto, the capital city of Ontario in Central Canada. Meanwhile, in the bordering province of Manitoba, polar bears roam the icy tundra and the aurora borealis electrifies the night sky. Get ready for an epic mix of urban buzz and untamed nature with our guide to exploring Ontario and Manitoba in autumn.

Ontario

Pick up a paddle, pack your camera and prepare your tastebuds for a trip bursting with colour and flavour in Canada’s southernmost province.

Taste the harvest

In September, Toronto is at the top of its cultural and culinary game – the city is filled with celebrities attending the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and restaurant menus are packed with the stars of fresh autumn produce. Ontario has a vibrant, multicultural population and there’s no greater display of cultural and ethnic diversity than in the culinary offerings available in Toronto. Alma, considered one of the country’s best restaurants, brings a twist to classic Chinese dishes such as radish cake with apple and garlic chives or potato dumplings with corn and truffle. The seasonal tasting menu at innovative fine-diner Ten presents root vegetables in surprising new ways – the sourdough with carrot butter is a crowd favourite.

Following Highway 401 westbound for 90 minutes leads you past gentle hills and patchworks of farmlands that feed the region. Mennonite horse-drawn buggies trot along rural roads as you approach St Jacobs Farmers’ Market, the largest year-round farmers’ market in Canada. The scent of woodfired maple syrup and red barns completes the old-world atmosphere as you wander among stalls overflowing with heirloom veggies and artisanal cheeses. Pick up an oversized pretzel or melt-in-your-mouth apple fritter for the ultimate sweet treat.

Follow the Apple Pie Trail

Venture two hours north-west of Toronto by car to where the Niagara Escarpment meets sparkling Georgian Bay. Here, the Apple Pie Trail – a culinary journey through orchards, cideries and eateries – awaits. Start in Blue Mountain Village, where cobblestoned streets bustle with boutique shops and cosy cafés. Ride the Open-Air Gondola for panoramic views stretching out to the bay’s cobalt expanse. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, pluck ripe apples from trees at The Farmer’s Pantry, sip on handcrafted ciders at Thornbury Village Cider House and indulge in a buttery, grandma-approved pie from Goldsmith’s Orchard Market.

For a taste of adventure, kayak on Jack’s Lake with Free Spirit Tours as the reflections of autumn’s palette ripple around you. Keep an eye on the sky for soaring bald eagles and the shoreline for busy beavers.

Visit local vineyards next to Niagara Falls

In this region surrounding the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls, fertile soils and a unique microclimate create ideal conditions for full-bodied chardonnay and riesling. The Niagara wine region, a two-hour drive from Toronto, is home to more than 50 wineries nestled between Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. Cycle between wineries along quiet country roads framed by amber vines then base yourself in the postcard-perfect town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

Peller Estates Winery Restaurant’s farm-to-table dining showcases bold regional flavours. Chef Jason Parsons sources ingredients from Ontario producers, including vegetables from the estate garden and meats from local farmers. Enjoy a guided tour from vineyard to cellar, ending with a tasting in the barrel room, often featuring the Private Reserve Chardonnay and ice wine, a dessert drop made from grapes frozen naturally on the vine.

Go for a hike

Step away from the vineyards and dive into the outdoors at Niagara Glen. Carved deep into the Niagara Gorge, the trails here traverse prehistoric rock formations fringed by rare plants. A new self-guided audio tour, Rekindling All Our Relations, invites you to engage with nature on a deeper level. As you walk, stories rooted in Indigenous wisdom follow you through the landscape, connecting the environment to rich traditions.

Back in Toronto, Evergreen Brick Works has hiking trails that meander through wetlands and forests – from certain vantage points you’ll see the skyline peeking through the tree canopy. Covering nearly 80 square kilometres and stretching from the edge of Toronto to the shores of Lake Ontario, Rouge National Urban Park offers scenic walks, quiet riverbanks and opportunities to spot wildlife, including deer, foxes, beavers and more than 200 bird species.

Catch a live match

Toronto’s passion for sport ignites in October, offering a rare chance to experience major league baseball, hockey and basketball – all downtown. On a clear evening at the Rogers Centre, the retractable roof slides open to reveal the CN Tower piercing the night sky. The aroma of popcorn lingers as you join in singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, a cold beer in hand, while cheering the Toronto Blue Jays towards playoff glory. 

A short walk away, Scotiabank Arena hums with anticipation as the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team takes to the ice. At month’s end, the arena transforms as the Toronto Raptors share the stage. Basketball games here are more than sports events – they’re like high-energy dance parties with DJs spinning tracks that pulse through the stands. 

Get out on the water 

Three hours north of the city, Algonquin Provincial Park is a tapestry of forests and more than 1500 lakes. Rent a canoe from local outfitters, pack a hearty picnic and paddle glassy Lake Opeongo – the park’s largest lake – while keeping watch for moose grazing at the water’s edge. 

If reaching Algonquin isn’t on the cards, the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough is 1.5 hours from Toronto. Immerse yourself in Canada’s rich paddling heritage by exploring interactive exhibits and crafting your own canoe paddle in a hands-on workshop. The collection conveys stories of Indigenous peoples and the voyageurs employed to transport goods in remote regions, as well as the waterways that shaped the nation. On the way, detour to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg. Set amid 16 hectares of woodland, the art museum includes masterpieces by the Group of Seven landscape painters (1920-33) and Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau, known as the “Picasso of the North”.

Where to stay in Ontario

1 Hotel Toronto

An eco-friendly haven with living green walls and reclaimed materials in the heart of the lively King West district. 

Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain

This grand chalet-style resort with stone façades and timber beams is just steps from hiking trails and the shops of Blue Mountain Village.

Harbour House Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake

A nautical-inspired inn with fireplaces in every room that’s set near the riverfront.

Manitoba

Swap city lights for celestial ones and trade paved streets for tundra trails. Churchill, Manitoba, is polar bear and Northern Lights territory.

See polar bears roam wild

Churchill, in northern Manitoba, is inaccessible by road. You’ll arrive by plane from Toronto (via Winnipeg) to a dramatic landscape that combines endless boreal forests and the stark tundra. 

In October and November – when the first chill grips the air – polar bears begin their migration to the icy waters of Hudson Bay. Drawn by the promise of early-forming sea ice, which aids in hunting seals, they congregate in impressive numbers, turning the town into the “polar bear capital of the world”.

Join Frontiers North Adventures aboard its electric Tundra Buggies – specially designed eco-vehicles that navigate the challenging terrain with ease. From elevated viewing decks, watch polar bears amble across the ice – if you’re lucky, some may even get close enough to hear the crunch of their paws. Spend a night at the Tundra Buggy Lodge, a mobile hotel that parks deep in bear territory. On clear nights, you can marvel at the northern lights painting the sky and then wake up to polar bears just outside your window.

Lazy Bear Expeditions ventures into pristine areas teeming with wildlife aboard custom-built Arctic Crawlers. Equipped with large windows and an outdoor viewing platform, these vehicles offer unobstructed views and excellent polar bear, Arctic fox or hare photo ops. Return to the warmth of Lazy Bear Lodge, a handcrafted log cabin, to warm yourself by the stone fireplace and savour local delicacies such as slow-roasted bison.

For a more intimate encounter, Churchill Wild offers guided walking safaris that enable you to observe polar bears on foot and hole up at remote eco-stays such as Seal River Heritage Lodge, perched on the coast of Hudson Bay, a 25-minute flight from Churchill. As you trek the shoreline with seasoned guides, you might lock eyes with a curious bear beneath the vast Arctic sky. Evenings bring tundra-inspired cuisine from the chef’s own cookbooks – wild rice casserole, almond-crusted trout and Arctic cranberry cake with butter sauce are firm favourites. Share stories around the fire while the Northern Lights swirl overhead.

SEE ALSO: In Search of Canada’s Great White Wonders

Connect with local wisdom 

For centuries, the people of the Sayisi Dene First Nations travelled with the caribou herds around Northern Manitoba, adapting to the rhythm of the land. Florence Hamilton, founder of Dene Routes and a proud Sayisi Dene woman, is both an artisan and a storyteller dedicated to preserving her people’s culture. Through her hands-on workshops, you’ll learn the art of caribou hair tufting, an intricate craft passed down through her family. As you work, Hamilton will share tales of her ancestors, weaving stories of survival and the traditions that have sustained her people. You’ll also enjoy dried caribou and warm bannock (fried bread) matched with locally sourced jams.

Ride with spirited huskies 

Dave Daley, founder of Wapusk Adventures, is a proud Métis musher whose life is inseparable from his spirited team of sled dogs. Upon arrival, his huskies greet you with bright eyes and wagging tails, eager to lead the way as you embark on a sledding tour.

When the ground isn’t covered in snow, the dogs charge through the forest as you sit atop a specially designed cart while Daley shares captivating stories of Métis culture, the history of dog mushing and the bond between musher and dog.

SEE ALSO: See the Northern Lights with Canada’s Favourite Dog Musher

Learn the science behind the Northern Lights

Positioned beneath one of the most active auroral zones, Churchill offers a front-row seat to the incredible natural phenomenon up to 300 nights a year. At the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, dive deep into science and mythology alongside researchers who have devoted their lives to understanding the skies. 

Lazy Bear Expeditions’ Ultimate Northern Lights Solar Science Adventure takes you even closer to the cosmos on a multi-day excursion. Join expert solar scientists as they walk you through the forces behind the aurora at prime viewing spots, including an exclusive location on Hudson Bay’s rugged shores. This is packaged with the Arctic Crawler expedition and includes an enriching Dene cultural talk, offering insight into the Indigenous connection to the Northern Lights and the land.

Spot bison roaming in Riding Mountain National Park

If you’re travelling to Churchill from Winnipeg in early September, it’s worth extending your stay to explore Riding Mountain National Park. Wildlife is especially active in this 3000-square-kilometre expanse at this time of year. The early morning air carries the calls of elk and bison roaming open grasslands and Parks Canada estimates there are 800-1000 black bears in the park. At dusk on the Ominnik Marsh Trail, you might spot beavers working on their lodges. 

Settle in at Arrowhead Family Resort – a freshly renovated retreat perched on Clear Lake, with horseback riding, wildlife viewing and hiking trails right on your doorstep – or Lakehouse Resort, a boutique hotel with an onsite restaurant, ​cafe and retail shop in the heart of downtown Wasagaming, Manitoba.

SEE ALSO: These Wildly Luxe Canadian Lodges Need to Be on Your Hot List